I feared giving the UK a long(ish) extension would be a mistake. I didn’t think it would do anything to resolve the chaos in British politics and that it could create problems within the EU. Macron thought so too, as did Barnier, but Merkel forced it through. Some would say she’s a track record of creating problems in Europe driven by German industrial requirements, has she done it again?the Guardian – 16 Apr 19

The news about Farage has made me lose hope.
The majority of the English voters seem totally unconcerned with the economic outcome, unless it affects their roaming charges on holiday.
It will, obviously affect all of us as the pound falls yet again, but take a perverse delight in the self inflicted damage to their own pockets.
No doubt, when that happens they will look for a fall guy in the shape of the EU.

If Farage and his chums do well in the European elections then I’m afraid UK citizens have only themselves to blame. It’s time the head in the sand public who don’t bother to vote took some responsibility for their own country.

I think it was a damned if you do, damned if you don’t choice for the EU, or more specifically for Tusk - I don’t think Merkel is at the helm. Obviously they don’t want a hard Brexit but more importantly, they don’t want to go down in history as the ones who forced it. Which deciding in favour a short extension would have done. They are very aware of the blame game that the UK is so fond of; and by ostentatiously voting against a hard Brexit in Parliament, the UK had everything in place to play the “we never wanted this, it was forced on us against our express will” card. If we do end up with a hard Brexit it has to be clearly the UK’s decision for political reasons, and the EU generally puts politics before economics. In that sense it was the right decision because the EU is now seen as being patient and bending over backwards to be helpful, at a cost to itself - the gamble is, how high that cost will be.

We’re now in a situation where it is very hard to reverse the process - the anti-EU rhetoric has been wound up too much, the language of betrayal, treachery and even treason used too often, the constant output suggesting that the “will of the people” must be followed regardless because it is “anti-democratic” not to do so.

The con is ongoing and the conned have not yet realised that they have been duped. When they do the fallout could be massive, but there is every chance they simply won’t ever “see” it.

Sadly I predict the EU election turnout will be low - as usual, and the "remain " vote will be squandered on the tinge.
Corbyn can’t afford to support a second referendum - it isn’t just his own Euroscepticism , but a massive election of Labour MEPs would surely send a message. Sadly I don’t see it happening.
The vileness of the people running the UK at the moment demands some of Corbyn’s socialist optimism - even if I think a lot of it is pie in the sky …

I found it telling that in a city of millions, there were only a million, perhaps two marchers in London, and only six million voted in the petition.

The problem is that Emmanuel Macron was being driven by his domestci politics. Having been portrayed as De Gaulle saying “Non, Non” to and extension he had nowhere to go.

Donald Tusk know far more about the subtleties of EU politics and his plan of giving the UK enough time to sort itself out, or enough rope to hang itself, is undoubtedly the more statesman-like approach.

Macron certainly has his issues at home but I think he’s not just being expedient, his pro EU stance predates any of that. So far Brexit has all been about the UK, a sort of me, me, me thing. That’s enough to tick anybody (including me) off and it’s got to end. There are 60m odd (some very odd) people in the UK, there are 450m in the rest of the EU. Notwithstanding that an EU with all 610m is better for all, having spent two years pandering to the cloth-eared British team (with the notable exception of Olly Robbins) being driven by clowns like Davis and Raab it’s time to tell the UK to put up or shut up or else risk damage to the EU. That’s what Macron, Barnier, Verhofstadt and many others are concerned about IMO.